Abstract
A 55-year-old woman undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy 12 years earlier was admitted with abdomi-nal pain and nausea in December 1999. Plain abdominal radiography showed multiple air-fluid levels. A sponge-like mass was noted by computed tomography (CT) in the small intestine. Ultrasound (US) of the mass showing an intraluminal echogenic mass with acoustic shadowing. Overconsumption of persimmons was confirmed in a detailed medical history intervuew. Surgery was conducted based on diagnosis of small bowel obstruction due to a diosphyrobezoar. A dark brown egg-sized mass of foreign matter removed from the impacted ileum contained over 98% tannic acid.
